High school gyms across the country have begun to ring out with the sounds of basketballs bouncing. As football season winds down, hoops hysteria is picking up, and that means teams across the country will soon be vying to see who is the best. Ball is Life recently released their Preseason Top 20 and many of the teams that were scheduled to make an appearance here in Fort Myers at the Culligan City of Palms Classic are on that list. 

Last year’s COP champ and runner-up, Montverde Academy and IMG Academy, lead the poll at Nos. 1 and 2 respectively. Both teams return a plethora of talent with Montverde being led by 6’8” Caleb Houstan and 6’9” Jalen Duren. IMG counters with 6’10” Moussa Diabate, who recently committed to Michigan, and 6’6” Jarace Walker.

Also making the top 20 are No. 6 West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.), No. 11 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), and No. 16 Legacy Early College (Greenville, SC).